Rotherham United vs Blackburn Rovers. Sky Bet Championship.
New York StadiumAttendance10,345.
Report and free highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Rotherham United and Blackburn Rovers at New York Stadium; Hakeem Odoffin scored after 31 seconds before Oliver Rathbone hits stunner, Shane Ferguson nets direct from a corner and Connor Washington bags fourth late on
Saturday 14 January 2023 16:04, UK
Rotherham scored three goals from outside the box as they claimed an unlikely 4-0 victory over high-flying Blackburn.
Hakeem Odoffin fired the hosts in front after just 31 seconds with a piledriver from the edge of the box.
Blackburn controlled possession throughout yet couldn't create enough opportunities in front of goal as Oliver Rathbone doubled Rotherham's lead in the second half by slamming an unstoppable effort off the underside of the crossbar.
Rotherham, who had won just once in their previous 12 league games, then saw Shane Ferguson score direct from a corner before their perfect afternoon was capped when Conor Washington netted in injury time.
Rotherham caught Blackburn cold when Odoffin arrived to slam a wonderful half-volley into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box.
Blackburn struggled to find their rhythm until Bradley Dack headed Harry Pickering's cross wide, before Ryan Hedges was superbly denied in the box by goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, who spread himself to block the goal-bound effort.
It proved to be a crucial save as Rathbone added a second seven minutes after the break with a left-footed drive from 20 yards which bounced over the line after crashing down off the woodwork.
Blackburn were made to suffer when Ferguson's in-swinging corner from the right was unable to be kept out by goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski at his near post.
Rotherham weren't done there, though, as Washington steered home a low effort, this time from inside the box, for a fourth in injury time.
Rotherham's Matt Taylor:
"We have felt pretty low for the last six weeks or so. We have been lower than a snake's belly. There was intent and we were up in their faces and there was great execution in the quality of the goals. That first goal gave us a huge boost. There has been honesty from myself, the players and the staff, we have brought some players in and changed the shape.
"We have simplified our approach to the game which seemed to help the players. We have generally kept a good team at arm's length. The message to the players before the game was we were in a 20-game season now and we're in the fight of our lives. It's the biggest fight I have ever been in and we have to show that. When you are confronted with a challenge you've got one or two options. You can run away and hide and make excuses or you can stand up to it and put your best foot forward. That was the way we went about our business today."
Blackburn's Jon Dahl Tomasson:
"It's a disappointing result and a poor performance. We talked about starting the game well and then conceded in the first minute. We had three big opportunities to get back in the game in the first half. They are probably the three best chances in the game. You need to take those chances. We need to apologise to our fans because it was a poor performance.
"The second goal killed us a bit. We need to stay in the game. We need to be creative in the final third. It was not good enough. It's an extremely young squad and it is something they need to learn. There are no excuses. We can win every game and lose every game."
